Reading have no fresh injury concerns for the visit of promoted Newcastle but will again be without Matt Mills.

The former Doncaster defender serves the second instalment of a four-match suspension but manager Brian McDermott will again be able to call upon fit-again duo Brian Howard and Jem Karacan.

Howard returned from a neck injury to play the full 90 minutes of Saturday's goalless draw at Cardiff while fellow midfielder Karacan was an unused substitute in the Welsh capital following his recovery from a dead leg.

Kalifa Cisse (thigh) returned to training last week so could be involved on the bench but the midfielder is more likely to feature in Wednesday's reserve team game against Bristol City.